Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Addiction Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the levels of
compassion fatigue and burnout in addiction workers and to
assess the possibility of prediction of the variance of those
variables using mental health workers' work stressors and
experienced stress due to changes in working conditions
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the moderating effect
of compassion satisfaction in the relationship between work
stressors and compassion fatigue was tested. 126 addiction
workers (79,7 % women) participated in this research. The
following instruments were used: Oldenburg Burnout
Inventory, Professional Quality of Life Scale, Mental Health
20 Professional Stress Scale, and Perceived Stress due to Changes in Working Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic Questionnaire, developed for the purpose of this
study. Compassion fatigue (secondary traumatic stress (STS)
and burnout) was determined by client-related difficulties,
home-work conflict, relationship and conflicts with other
professionals and organisational structure and processes.
Burnout (OLBI) was determined by workload-related stress.
Compassion satisfaction was found to have a moderating
effect in the relationship between work stressors and
compassion fatigue. Perceived stress due to changes in
working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic
predicted both secondary traumatic stress and burnout
(OLBI).